I was hugely honoured to be invited to speak today as
@JohnHealey_MP
&
@Keir_Starmer
laid out Labour's commitments to our Armed Forces.
I spoke about witnessing the Tory mismanagement of our military & why I & my fellow veteran PPCs are fighting to put national security first!
Dear
@Tobias_Ellwood
,
As someone who served in
#Afghanistan
, I was astonished by your video praising the Taliban this week.
So here's one of mine with a simple question for you, and your conscience👇
Remembering today 2Lt Jo Dyer, of my regt
@Int_Corps
, who lost her life 17 years ago today in Iraq.
Remembering also those who fell with her: Cpl O'Neil, Pte Dlugosz & Kingsman Smith.
Their stories are here👇
@brexit_sham
Thanks guys- I wouldn't have said this if I didn't know that many fellow veterans and those still serving agreed with me- as indeed many have since told me. These ordinary men and women, who signed up to do extraordinary things, deserve better from our leadership.
Thank you so much to everyone who chose change and has put their faith in me to represent them here in North East Derbyshire.
It is a massive honour and I can't wait to get to work!!!!
Having been a woman in the Army, I know Capt Knapton's challenge did not just come from the immensely arduous course so I'm very moved to see her succeed.
Shout out also to the huge moral courage shown by certain leaders recently to make this possible.
Whilst you are all here...
Afghans who served with Brit forces are stranded abroad with no way to reach UK due to the failures of the Home Office.
They of course cannot go home either, despite what the chairman of the Def Ctte says ...
Please support👇
An often quoted military tenet is "no man left behind".
Shameful that so many Afghans who served with us have been thus left behind in terrible conditions, simply for want of political will.
Today, we have written to the PM about our duty to bring our comrades to safety👇
I'm hugely honoured to have been selected as
@UKLabour
Parliamentary Candidate for North East Derbyshire!
I'm very grateful to the members and all those who have put their trust in me- it is truly humbling.
Now time to get cracking for the general election! 🌹
With Keir Starmer, I know we'll have a Prime Minister that really values our Armed Forces.
I'm particularly proud that we'll scrap visa fees for non-UK veterans & their dependents with more than 4 years service. 🌹
Where does the time go! 🤯
Ten years ago today, I marched up the steps of Old College,
@RMASandhurst
, & commissioned as Second Lieutenant Jones into the mighty
@Int_Corps
.
I think you can see from my big grin how proud I was here to have made it!
If I'm privileged to become your Prime Minister, my priority will be wealth creation, and making you better off.
Choose change with Labour on Thursday.
An often quoted military tenet is "no man left behind".
Shameful that so many Afghans who served with us have been thus left behind in terrible conditions, simply for want of political will.
Today, we have written to the PM about our duty to bring our comrades to safety👇
After Afghanistan fell, the UK Govt promised to relocate the Afghans who bravely served with us.
They are failing on this obligation & there’s no plan to get those Afghans left behind to safety.
We must not renege on our debt of honour to them.
Read our letter to
@RishiSunak
👇🏽
It's pretty appalling that Fred's opponent is attacking his military service in an effort to distract from the Tories' own abysmal record in running the country.
Fred will be a fantastic MP for Plymouth Moor View.
Shocked and disappointed by the hustings yesterday.
Service should be above political point scoring.
My time as Royal Marines Commando is a privilege of a lifetime. It would be an honour to serve Plymouth in Parliament, as I served our nation before.
I am honoured to announce that I have been shortlisted in the selection process to be
@UKLabour
's candidate for North East Derbyshire!
Our communities deserve better than crumbling schools and soaring bills. Join me in this fight at !
It was fantastic to welcome
@Keir_Starmer
to
#ClayCross
today to discuss all the great things Labour will do, from reducing ASB to tackling the cost of living crisis!
Big thanks to
@StevenJGPerez
for hosting us!
Remember, if you want change,
#VoteLabour
on Thursday!🌹
I left the Army 2.5 yrs ago.
I just received a text saying my mil hire car is booked for end of Nov.
Either I'm being compulsorily mobilised or someone is using an old form of mine to book cars, & not changed the📱!
If the latter, nice to think I left my mark, however small😂
It was a huge honour to introduce Keir Starmer ahead of his speech today.
I had the opportunity to speak about the importance of service from my time in the Army & how it will underpin everything I would do as MP for
#NorthEastDerbyshire
.
#Labour
will put working people first!
I will never not be just so goddamn chuffed to see women earning their place in infantry and cavalry regiments, when even just a few years ago we weren't even allowed to *try* to reach the standard.
There is nothing women can't do when given the opportunity.
It always confuses Conservatives that increasing numbers of veterans are choosing
@UKLabour
.
Let me explain.
It's because of the SHEER DAMAGE done to our military by the Tories' deliberate mismanagement & cuts, all in a time of rising threats.
Hope that helps.
Great to be in
#Dronfield
today to launch our
#GeneralElection
campaign for
#NorthEastDerbyshire
!
As a veteran, I've seen first-hand how the Conservatives have mismanaged our wonderful country.
Well it's time for change.
Let's get started and rebuild Britain!
It was great to join
@Louise_E_Jones
on the campaign trail. She’s ready to serve our country in Parliament just as she served it in our Armed Forces.
On 4 July, voters in North East Derbyshire have the chance to choose change with Labour.
I'm pleased to hear Tobias Ellwood has finally resigned as Chair of the Defence Select Committee.
As I pointed out below, his video was a gross misjudgement.
I hope he will use his extra spare time now to reflect on his actions & identify an actually useful way to help Afghans
Dear
@Tobias_Ellwood
,
As someone who served in
#Afghanistan
, I was astonished by your video praising the Taliban this week.
So here's one of mine with a simple question for you, and your conscience👇
Labour will back our small businesses all the way!
We'll:
⌛ Tackle late payment of invoices
👮♀️ Crack down on high street crime
📈Reform business rates (SO needed)
🏦 Provide banking hubs in every community
🏩 Revamp empty spaces
Time for change!
I remember going on a visit to a Danish Army unit.
Their accommodation was not just spotless but *beautiful*. Their canteen food was delicious. Their uniforms ally. Their beards bushy.
They were also hugely impressive at work.
They have a union
@Soldaterne
.
Just saying.
Politics is a team sport and I've been so lucky to have these fantastic volunteers here in
#NorthEastDerbyshire
!
Sometimes elections seem to just happen but, out of sight of TV camera s, they take thousands of doors knocked and leaflets delivered to win.
So THANK YOU!!!🌹
It was lovely to see my fellow ex-military PPCs yesterday!
But great to be back on the doors in
#Eckington
this morning speaking to local residents about the change that a Labour Government will bring🌹
In his rather pathetic attempt to gaslight us into thinking his video was some sort of noble endeavour in the pursuit of reasoned Statecraft,
@Tobias_Ellwood
still can't bring himself to acknowledge the violent oppression- sorry "increasing restrictions"- of women in Afghanistan.
CDS Carter asked for some tiny measure of accountability, to which he smirks and simpers, waffling about resources and "mistakes". No sign he appreciates the enormity of what has happened under his tenure, or the fragile state the military is now in.
#Marr
#Afghanistan
🚨 GREAT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS🚨
Currently the Govt is providing scholarships of £10 000 for "zero to hero" MScs in Data Science/Artificial Intelligence, prioritised for underrepresented groups such as veterans.
These courses are designed for those new to coding/
Good to be back on Sky News yesterday discussing the parlous state of the British Army after years of mismanagement, counter productive "cost cutting" and bad decisions.
Time for fresh ideas!
"We're flattering ourselves to call ourselves even tier two."
Louise Jones, head of intelligence at McKenzie Intelligence Services, answers whether the UK is still a tier one military force.
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
The LRRG in Mali was an ill conceived & frankly pointless piece of adventuring that did nothing to help Malians.
It was also a massive slap in the face for those of us who hoped we'd learn *something* from Afghan.
UK needs to urgently get a grip on making real strategy again.
Nine months after France announced its withdrawal from Mali, Ministers have finally decided to follow suit.
Yet we lack any UK strategy for the Sahel, which has become a new epicentre for terrorism. Ministers must fill this Sahel shaped-gap in the review of the Integrated Review
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me over the past day!
MPs set their offices up from scratch so please bear with me until it's all sorted.
For urgent casework, please email contact
@louisejones4ned
.co.uk until I get my official email.
Thank you all!
Did your village fête have a flyover by the awesome
@rafredarrows
or are you not as cool as
@whpri
in
#NorthEastDerbyshire
??
Epic to see and so fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves & raising money for such a great school!
@richardosman
@BigJetTVLIVE
Me before today: I have no idea how to land a plane
Me now: oo he's gonna need that left wheel down first with that A320 the idiot what does he think this is
"This is a really bad day for President Putin."
Louise Jones of
@McKenzie_Int
explains the military and political significance of Finland and Sweden potentially joining NATO - and how it could impact the war in Ukraine.
Live:
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube
It was so great to welcome our next Transport Secretary
@LouHaigh
to
#NorthEastDerbyshire
today!
#Killamarsh
in particular has been poorly served by local transport recently and I can't wait to get to work improving links here and across the constituency!
Prince Andrew's titanic self entitlement always makes me think of him as the sort of spare prince who, in the middle ages, would 100% have attempted to usurp the throne from his elder brother via an unsuccessful rebellion, funded by a backstabby alliance with the King of France.
What a GREAT evening!
The wonderful
@olivercoppard
&
@ClaireWard4EM
coming to listen to residents in Killamarsh & discuss how they'll work together to benefit our communities with the long term plan we need!
A real plan. For real change.🌹
FINALLY some sunny weather to campaign in
#Dronfield
!
A lovely day with these great activists listening to local residents speak about what matters to them. 🌹
What a fantastic day's campaigning!
I'm so fortunate to be supported by so many volunteers giving up their time to fight for a better
#NorthEastDerbyshire
!
Vote for Change on
#4July
!🌹
Got asked if new MPs should go through an Army style boot camp and you can see me here summoning every ounce of professionalism that I possess not to call for mandatory log runs and CBRN drills.
For the next intake, of course.
Out with the crew on what was *almost* a warm day in the sunshine!
Spoke to lots of residents in
#Wingerworth
who are fed up with the Conservatives and want that change! 🌹
As yet another by-election looms...
I spoke on
@politicseastmid
about how the Conservatives are playing silly games with our democracy, refusing to be held accountable for their dismal record.
It's clear the voters want change so let's just have a
#GeneralElection
please!
@ThreshedThought
I second this- Severodonetsk is symbolically very important but the Ukrainians need to keep as much distance between Russian heavy artillery and Odessa as they can.
Flattered to be included in
@NewStatesman
's list of Labour's next generation!
If I'm so fortunate as to be elected, I can't wait to get to work with them all🌹
A few people have asked about the clip referenced which is below- a lot of feelings here...👇
🌹 LABOUR GAIN🌹
Be in no doubt: there is something changing in this country.
Ordinary people are fed up of the mismanagement of our country and they want decent hardworking MPs who'll focus on getting us back on track and delivering for them and their families!
I'm always interested in what
@pinstripedline
has to say- he knows how to do the research.
Have to say Sir Humph is bang on here!
Also rather necky of the Conservatives to suddenly find £2.5Bn to spend on NS whilst full-time soldiers live in substandard, mouldy accommodation.
Just starting the last canvass of the day here in Gosforth Valley with this amazing crew of volunteers!
So many voters telling us they're voting
#Labour
- let's keep pushing til 10!
I'm delighted to see
@ClaireWard4EM
win!
She's a fantastic public servant, laser-focused on what people need, and I can't wait see all the good stuff she'll do for the East Midlands!🌹
Capped off a week campaigning all over
#NorthEastDerbyshire
!
Top issues raised👇
🚀 Why the roads here look like the surface of the moon
🚍 Loss of bus services
👛 Rishi's recession hitting working people
All glad to hear Labour's plan to get our country back on track!🌹
@peterkyle
Thank you for listening to me speak Peter. I would be most grateful if you could urge your Party to have the moral courage to press for an inquiry, and not let the military mark their own homework. Thank you,the QT vet.
Great evening last night with so many of the Labour family at my fundraiser! 🌹
An honour as always to stand alongside
@ClaireWard4EM
&
@NicolleNdiweni
- two amazing women.
Special thanks to our speaker, the fantastic
@DanJarvisMP
, & auctioneer extraordinaire
@Vernon_Coaker
!
I can promise as North East Derbyshire's MP I will never EVER prioritise bankers' bonuses💰.
Instead a
@UKLabour
Govt will be laser focused on:
👨👩👧👦 Cost of living
🏘️ Housing crisis
👮 Safe communities
Let's not rewind to 2007. Let's get
#BritainsFuture
back.
Tory MP Lee Rowley has a 12,897 majority in a constituency that was previously Labour since 1935
I, for one, will be glad to see the back of him next year
#bbcqt
So good to have
@TobyDickinson
from
@labourforces
along to campaign today!
Labour Friends of Forces are a fantastic group and such a support to us veterans.
Fantastic as ever to be in Liverpool and looking forward to
#LabourPartyConference
! Key issues today and every day:
🌹 Housing
🌹 Cost of living
🌹 NHS
Lots to talk about!
.
@BorisJohnson
refuses request from
@Tobias_Ellwood
for formal public inquiry into
#Afghanistan
debacle - PM claims substantive issues have already been examined. Few of his colleagues will agree
@Charlie533080
@ThreshedThought
That's very kind of you to say. I have been blown away since by how many veterans have told me they feel the same anger yet we all feel so powerless to hold people to account.
Busy two sessions campaigning today in
#ClayCross
,
#NorthEastDerbyshire
& a big thank you to
@ChesterfieldClp
for their fantastic support!👏
We heard from many lifelong Conservative voters that they are switching to Labour because they know we will deliver what they need🌹
@JamesCleverly
Thank you James. But as I said last night, veterans don't want charity, we want to know the sacrifices have not been in vain. We want justice.
Liz genuinely is confused why randomly announcing £45bn worth of unfunded tax cuts ended up causing so much damage to our highly complex (and highly leveraged) financial system.
I have written for the Sunday
@Telegraph
about what happened during my time in Downing Street and the lessons I have learned… 👇🏻
‘I assumed upon entering Downing Street my mandate would be respected. How wrong I was’
Military voters are seeing through the Conservative bluster.
They're seeing the low pay, the shabby accommodation & the general mismanagement of our Armed Forces.
They want change!🌹
2023: what a year!
The absolute highlight was being selected as the Labour PPC for
#NorthEastDerbyshire
🌹& cracking on with speaking to voters about our plan for better public services & economy for them & their families.
As always, there's plenty more to do, so bring on 2024!
These past few days have seen some very solemn and very public duties carried about by the military and it has often been the lowest ranks front and centre.
They've been perfect- a real testament to the quality of our soldiers.
Big coats and beanie hats today in North Wingfield! 🥶 Good conversations about Labour's plan to get our country back on track and deliver for working people again🚄🌹
I see this & think back to watching the online funeral of my friend, a beautiful person & fantastic Army officer, who had died from breast cancer, aged just 30 💔
Whilst she was denied her "goodbye party" & the send-off from friends she deserved, this lot of children laughed👇
🚨 | BREAKING: A first ever video of partygate has been leaked showing the Tories drinking, dancing and LAUGHING at breaking covid rules
“Are you filming this? As long as we’re not steaming that we’re like, bending the rules ahahah”
@JuliaHB1
@theJeremyVine
Er that's the point. If you don't slow down *before* you reach the horse you'll scare it and cause an accident. No point slowing down after you've reached it 🙄
𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐!
Photos from this morning's session in a very soggy Dronfield for
@Louise_E_Jones
for North East Derbyshire. Whilst the weather was miserable the mood on the doors was upbeat: just one more sleep until the Tories are gone🌹
‼️NEW ‼️
"So in short, instead of celebrating we should be troubled by this episode. I am unsure that the LRRG carried out the right actions here...". An alternative view on combat in Mali. |
@LouJoSays
Sunny selfies today of our great canvassing teams!
Out in
#Wingerworth
and
#Dronfield
talking to voters and actually listening to them.
What do they want... a working economy, decent public services, and a
#GeneralElectionNow
& not just when it suits Rishi!
After the devastating news about
#SarahEverard
, I was doubly shocked to see that a man has been charged over the death of
#WenjingLin
, who was just 16. She was studying her GCSEs and was a member of her school's CCF. She was attacked in her family's restaurant, in broad daylight.
Sarah Everard and Wenjing Lin. This is the cost of unchecked male violence in society. In the space of a few days, two clever, loved and loving young women lost their lives. There will have been others in the last week, women who were killed without ever making the news.
Whilst this is welcome news, I am reminded of Churchill's words, shortly after Dunkirk: "we must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations."
Update on Afghanistan:
➞ 7,109 people have been evacuated under Operation PITTING, which commenced on Friday 13 August
➞ that includes more than 4,200 Afghans and their families
➞ more than 1,000 UK Armed Forces personnel have been deployed in Kabul
FB memories throw up real zingers sometimes 😂
👇OCdt Jones clutching her fastest 🏃♀️ trophy in the
@RMASandhurst
steeplechase, which marks the end of Junior term.
For me this was one of my proudest moments- after a term spent mostly like a 🐇 in 🚘, I finally did good!
Fixing social care will significantly improve living standards of those in need, reduce the burden on their loved ones, and free up hospital space for hospital treatment.
I'm proud to support
@unisontheunion
's pledge and
@UKLabour
's plan for a National Care Service!
Social care is broken. The current fragmented and privatised system is unfit to meet the needs of social care users.
But a better way is possible.
If you're a parliamentary candidate, sign up to UNISON's pledge.
#LetsMakeCareWork